Leased Line Definition – What it is… in Plain English!

Here's my leased line definition: A leased line is a point-to-point symmetric dedicated data connection.

Point-to-point means that it connects two points (i.e. locations) together.

Symmetric means that you can send and receive data at the same high speeds.

Dedicated means that the connection is just for your use. You don't have to share the bandwidth with anyone. The same bandwidth is available at all times, even at peak times when lots of other customers of your ISP are using their connections to the full.

A leased line is by definition 'leased'. In other words there is a monthly fee for renting a leased line. There may also be a one-off setup charge.

Leased lines can be used for many things, including linking two offices together, linking an office to a pre-existing corporate WAN, carrying phone calls from your office to your telecoms provider and linking data centres together. The protocols to be used, and the uses to which the leased line are put can vary widely. That's why the leased line definition above is rather generic.